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UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 09 TOKYO 000860 
 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPT FOR E, P, EB, EAP/J, EAP/P, EAP/PD, PA; 
WHITE HOUSE/NSC/NEC; JUSTICE FOR STU CHEMTOB IN ANTI-TRUST DIVISION; 
TREASURY/OASIA/IMI/JAPAN; DEPT PASS USTR/PUBLIC AFFAIRS OFFICE; 
SECDEF FOR JCS-J-5/JAPAN, 
DASD/ISA/EAPR/JAPAN; DEPT PASS ELECTRONICALLY TO USDA 
FAS/ITP FOR SCHROETER; PACOM HONOLULU FOR PUBLIC DIPLOMACY ADVISOR; 
CINCPAC FLT/PA/ COMNAVFORJAPAN/PA. 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: OIIP KMDR KPAO PGOV PINR ECON ELAB JA
 
SUBJECT:  DAILY SUMMARY OF JAPANESE PRESS 04/15/09 
 
INDEX: 
 
(1) Editorial: U.S. should rethink planned end of F-22 fighter 
production [Nikkei] 
 
(2) Ozawa opposed to Futenma relocation [Okinawa Times] 
 
(3) Talks between Japan and North Korea needed [Mainichi] 
 
(4) Taepodong and Japan (Part 4) - Foreign Minister Hirofumi 
Nakasone: Father's influence and self-respect [Nikkei] 
 
(5) A historical thorn between Japan and United States [Nikkei] 
 
(6) Sakhalin 1 LNG export: Russia asks for Japan's assistance to 
build transportation network, export bases [Nikkei] 
 
(7) TOP HEADLINES 
 
(8) EDITORIALS 
 
(9) Prime Minister's schedule, April 14 [Nikkei] 
 
ARTICLES: 
 
(1) Editorial: U.S. should rethink planned end of F-22 fighter 
production 
 
NIKKEI (Page 2) (Full) 
April 15, 2009 
 
U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates announced [on April 6]  that the 
U.S. will place no new orders for the top-of-the-line F-22 fighter 
jet as part of a major review of the Pentagon's spending priorities 
for fiscal 2010. The Defense Ministry has designated the F-22 Raptor 
as a likely candidate for the nation's next-generation fighter (FX), 
but production of the F-22 jet is now likely to be halted. 
 
Washington has to overhaul military spending, given its sharply 
increasing fiscal deficit. Even so, the U.S. must not make light of 
the strategic impact that can be expected to appear if it decides to 
end the F-22 program. Considering the strategic environment in the 
Far East region, the Japanese government should ask the U.S. 
government to reconsider its recent decision. If Washington sells 
the product to Japan, its financial burden will be reduced as a 
result of the two countries sharing the production costs. 
 
The F-22 fighter is said to be far superior to any other aircraft in 
view of performance, due to its high stealth capability to evade 
radar detection and mobility at supersonic speed. The U.S. Congress 
has banned the export of the F-22 under U.S. law, citing the need to 
protect its sensitive technology. But then Prime Minister Shinzo Abe 
reportedly asked then U.S. President George Bush, when they met in 
2007, to provide Japan with information on the product as an 
exception. 
 
Japanese military officials particularly pay attention to the F-22 
as a likely FX candidate, against the backdrop of recent moves by 
China and Russia. China has improved the quality of its fighters and 
missile capabilities and has also increased the number of such 
weapons, while Russia is ready to introduce the Su-34 fighter 
bomber. 
 
TOKYO 00000860  002 OF 009 
 
 
 
Gates explained about why he decided to halt placing new orders for 
the F-22, saying that the product was designed on the basis of an 
idea in the Cold-War period. But the cold-war structure has still 
been left in the Far East region, such as disputes over the Korean 
Peninsula and the Taiwan Strait. That is why Japan thinks 
introducing the F-22 is necessary. 
 
The production of the F-22 costs 140 million dollars, or about 14 
billion yen, apiece. The U.S. government deems the high cost as a 
problem. However, Japan has already introduced the F-2 support 
fighter, whose production cost per unit is as high as the F-22's, so 
Japan does not see the price as an absolute obstacle, focusing on 
its high performance. 
 
It is still uncertain whether President Obama would decide to end 
the F-22 program. What the U.S. president should consider before 
making a final decision is what impact his decision will be brought 
about on Japan-U.S. relations. 
 
On the Japanese side, there are such observations as that "the U.S. 
is reluctant to sell the F-22, the block of secrets, even to its 
allies" and "the U.S. must be giving consideration to China." Such 
shrewd guesses will inevitably have a negative effect on Japan-U.S. 
relations. 
 
Japan is studying such models as the F-15FX, the F-18, F-35, and the 
Eurofighter made by a consortium of European manufacturers. If Japan 
selects the Eurofighter, the U.S. is expected to make a similar 
response to the current atmosphere of Japan. In such a case, 
bilateral relations might become strained. 
 
(2) Ozawa opposed to Futenma relocation 
 
OKINAWA TIMES (Page 1) (Full) 
April 15, 2009 
 
Democratic Party of Japan (Minshuto) President Ichiro Ozawa, meeting 
the press yesterday, indicated that he would oppose the government's 
plan to build a V-shaped pair of airstrips in a coastal area of 
Henoko, Nago City as an alternative facility for the U.S. Marine 
Corps' Futenma Air Station. "If they really need a place for the 
construction of an alternative facility," Ozawa said, "there are 
many other places." He added, "The government should discuss the 
issue with the U.S. government." The DPJ, in its "Okinawa Vision 
2008" report, sets forth its intention to relocate Futenma airfield 
elsewhere outside Okinawa Prefecture or Japan. Still, this is the 
first time for Ozawa to clarify his intention to oppose the Futenma 
relocation to Nago. 
 
"The bay (of Oura) is a beautiful coral sea and the northernmost 
habitat for dugongs," Ozawa said. He added, "I wonder if the 
construction of an airfield there is absolutely essential." With 
this, Ozawa indicated that the government plan would be unacceptable 
from the perspective of environmental conservation. He also revealed 
that he referred to this issue in his meeting with former U.S. 
Ambassador to Japan Mondale yesterday. 
 
In addition, Ozawa also brought up the relocation of Okinawa-based 
U.S. Marines to Guam, saying: "That is based on the United States' 
way of thinking from the aspect of military strategies, and I also 
think there is no need to forward-deploy troops on a large scale, so 
 
TOKYO 00000860  003 OF 009 
 
 
I think that's good." 
 
Okinawa Vision 2008, released in July last year, refers to the 
planned relocation of Futenma airfield to Henoko's coastal area, 
noting that the Futenma relocation has been at a deadlock although 
the government has begun a field survey to assess the newly planned 
facility's potential impact on its environs. The policy paper 
describes: "Taking the realignment of U.S. forces in Japan as an 
opportunity, we should continue to explore a way to relocate the 
Futenma airfield elsewhere outside Okinawa Prefecture. Needless to 
say, we will aim for overseas relocation, based on the changing 
strategic environment." 
 
This February, when Ozawa met with U.S. Secretary of State Clinton, 
he stressed the necessity of Japan-U.S. relations on an equal 
footing. However, he did not clarify his attitude about such 
specific issues as the Futenma relocation. This was taken to mean 
that he tried not to get too deeply involved in security issues as 
he wanted to avoid any constraint on a change of government. 
 
(3) Talks between Japan and North Korea needed 
 
MAINICHI (Page 8) (Full) 
April 15, 2009 
 
Commentary by National Defense University Professor of National 
Security Hideya Kurada 
 
Given the responses of China and Russia to North Korea's missile 
launch, all the UN Security Council (UNSC) could do was to issue a 
presidential statement. Even if deliberations were held more 
extensively, the adoption of a resolution could not be hoped for. 
Although the statement does not directly refer to a "missile," it 
categorically notes that the launch is in contravention of UN 
resolution 1718, which was adopted in the wake of its nuclear test. 
It is thus possible to presume that what the North had launched was 
a missile. 
 
The focus of efforts to reduce the threat of North Korean missiles 
will now shift to talks between the U.S. and the North. An easy 
settlement of the issue cannot be hoped for. The U.S. will be tested 
in terms of how it can reflect the results of bargaining with North 
Korea on the missile issue in the Six-Party Talks. North Korea 
opposed the UNSC chairman's statement, saying that the Six-Party 
Talks have now become unnecessary. However, it does not want to 
totally break the framework of the talks, because the agreement 
reached at them includes almost everything North Korea wants. The 
North will use its returning to the talks as a bargaining chip. 
 
Handling the missile issue at multilateral talks is more difficult 
than handling the nuclear issue. The missile issue involves at least 
four stages - launch, export, development and deployment. Placing a 
moratorium on the launching of a missile will be the action to be 
taken first. However, related countries' interests in how to press 
ahead with the issue after that differ significantly. 
 
Nodong missiles, which have already been deployed, are the greatest 
threat to Japan. The Six-Party Talks are the only effective 
framework for missile defense and preventing nuclear arms from being 
carried by Nodong missiles. Japan and North Korea should discuss the 
missile issue within that framework. 
 
 
TOKYO 00000860  004 OF 009 
 
 
(4) Taepodong and Japan (Part 4) - Foreign Minister Hirofumi 
Nakasone: Father's influence and self-respect 
 
NIKKEI (Page 2) (Slightly abridged) 
April 14, 2009 
 
Hirofumi Nakasone, 63, is the eldest son of former Prime Minister 
Yasuhiro Nakasone, 90, who became the fourth postwar longest-serving 
prime minister. The former prime minister also received the Grand 
Cordon of the Supreme Order of the Chrysanthemum. Among the 
recipients of this decoration, only Shigeru Yoshida, Eisaku Sato, 
and Nakasone received the award in their lifetime. When he decided 
on which university he should go and also made a career decision, 
Hirofumi did not ask for his father's advice. He joined Asahi 
Chemical Industry Co., after graduating Keio University. At the 
company, in which he worked for 15 years, Nakasone talked about his 
father for the first time when his boss told him: "You have a 
respectable family name." 
 
Hirofumi intended to keep a certain distance from his father. But he 
became a House of Councillors member in 1986. He ran in the Lower 
and Upper House double election carried out by his father, then 
Prime Minister Yasuhiro Nakasone, in his persuasion with the remark 
that the Liberal Democratic Party must secure all the seats in his 
electoral district." Hirofumi said: "Even now, some call me a 
'former prime minister's son' or a 'second-generation lawmaker,' but 
I started my career as a salaried worker." 
 
In assessing Nakasone, one said that although he has no qualities 
that befit a leader, few people speak ill of him. Persons around him 
therefore were surprised when Nakasone came out against the postal 
privatization bill in 2005, effectively ensuring its defeat in the 
Upper House. Although Nakasone had thought he would be treated 
coldly for the time being, he was unexpectedly picked to head the 
Foreign Ministry when the Aso administration was launched. 
 
Before assuming the current post, Nakasone had assumed a number of 
posts responsible for educational issues. After becoming foreign 
minister, he began to carry clipped articles on diplomatic affairs 
in his bag. In discussions at the UN Security Council on a response 
to North Korea's launch of a Taepodong-2 missile, he persistently 
reiterated Japan's position of seeking a new resolution. 
 
When Hirofumi was tapped to be foreign minister, some made cool 
comments, with one commenting: "Since he is not a House of 
Representatives member, he does not need to prepare himself for the 
next election." Another said: "The new administration has placed 
expectations on the effect of his family name recognition." Although 
he has denied the existence of his father's influence on his job, 
his father's presence will never vanish. 
 
In a meeting of the Lower House Foreign Affairs Committee on April 
10, an opposition party member complained when Nakasone told a 
government committee member to make a reply, "A person like you, who 
is the son of a person who received the grand cordon, should [make a 
reply yourself]." Nakasone responded unusually angrily: "I will have 
the official do so because the facts are to be ascertained." 
 
Just after Hirofumi was appointed foreign minister, his father 
encouraged him, saying: "Do your best." Although the father and the 
son live together, they rarely talk about work. He may not have that 
much time left as foreign minister. 
 
TOKYO 00000860  005 OF 009 
 
 
 
(5) A historical thorn between Japan and United States 
 
NIKKEI (Page 2) (Full) 
April 12, 2009 
 
Hisayoshi Ina, senior writer 
 
President Barack Obama's Prague speech advocating a nuclear-free 
world reminded me of President John F. Kennedy's West Berlin speech. 
Kennedy's "I am a Berliner" speech of 1963 has gone down in the 
history of the Cold War. 
 
The question of emotions over the bombing of Japan by the United 
States and Japan's attack on Pearl Harbor that preceded the former 
is a historical issue between the two countries. A visit to 
Hiroshima by the U.S. President, if realized, will be implanted 
deeper in history than Kennedy's Berlin speech. 
 
According to U.S. government authorities, during his stay in Japan, 
planned for later this year, President Obama has only the time to 
visit Tokyo and its vicinity. Attention will then be focused on the 
Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit to be held in 
Yokohama in the fall of 2010. 
 
Previously, Japan hosted the APEC Osaka summit in 1995. For next 
year, such cities as Sapporo, Yokohama, Kyoto, Nara, and Hiroshima 
came forward to host the event, and Prime Minister Taro Aso picked 
Yokohama. Its closeness to Tokyo was an advantage. 
 
Views split over Hiroshima, the A-bombed city. In view of the Obama 
administration's proactive stance on nuclear disarmament, journalist 
Fumio Matsuo has been calling for a visit to Hiroshima by the U.S. 
President. 
 
According to a U.S.-Russia summit agreement, the two countries will 
complete a new strategic arms reduction treaty this year. If the 
U.S. President visits Hiroshima around the APAEC meeting next fall, 
he would be able to transmit the need for nuclear nonproliferation 
to the international community based on his achievement in nuclear 
disarmament. How does President Obama like this idea? 
 
The U.S. President's visit to Hiroshima was discussed at a 
conference of journalists of the Asia-Pacific, held in Hawaii in 
2000, before the U.S. presidential election. There, an American 
reporter said: "If Republican candidate Al Gore wins, there would be 
a possibility." 
 
One might think that on an extension, President Obama can realize 
that. But things will not be that easy. Reportedly, the prevailing 
view in the United States is that the bombing quickened an end to 
the war with Japan. If a Hiroshima visit is taken to offer an 
apology, that would draw unexpectedly strong resistance particularly 
from the conservatives. 
 
An argument affirming the bombing exists in Japan, as well. 
According to Amerika: Jiyu to Henkaku no Kiseki [America: Tracings 
of Freedom and Change] by David John Lu, Koichi Kido, who had served 
Emperor Hirohito as home affairs minister, made the following 
comment in an interview with Lu in 1967. It was an expression of a 
view affirming the bombing by a senior statesman. 
 
 
TOKYO 00000860  006 OF 009 
 
 
"My duty was to defend the nation's political system and the safety 
of the Emperor. The military had an extremely strong intent to deal 
the last blow to the American side with a battle on mainland Japan. 
If the bombs had not been dropped and the military had not been 
aware that it was hopeless to turn around the war situation, I, who 
was in a position to consider the safety of the Emperor as home 
affairs minister, would not have been able to offer my opinion to 
end the war." 
 
It is believed that a visit to Hiroshima by the U.S. President 
should come hand in hand with a visit to Pearl Harbor by the 
Japanese Prime Minister. 
 
This, too, has yet to be realized. The reason is probably because 
both Japan and the United States have mixed feelings. The Memorial 
above the sunken USS Arizona is a venue to pay tribute to the war 
dead. One can still spot oil from the Arizona on the ocean surface. 
 
Kishichiro Amae was Consul General in Hawaii in 1995, the 50th 
anniversary of the end of the war. He was the Japanese government's 
representative in Hawaii. But perhaps because of that, he was not 
able to attend the ceremony held at the USS Arizona Memorial on 
December 7 that year. 
 
He was able to attend the ceremony in 1996 but was not allowed to 
lay a wreath. The wreath carrying the consul general's name had been 
laid in advance, and Amae remained in his seat. He was finally 
allowed lay a wreath in 1997. 
 
The year 2010 will be the 50th year since the conclusion of the 
revised U.S.-Japan Security Treaty. To coincide with President 
Obama's visit to Japan, a joint statement confirming the 
significance of the bilateral alliance of the 21st century will be 
released. 
 
The President's visit to Hiroshima and the Prime Minister's visit to 
Pearl Harbor carry the symbolic meaning of drawing out a historical 
thorn of the 20th century. That will be the base for reconfirming 
the alliance. 
 
(6) Sakhalin 1 LNG export: Russia asks for Japan's assistance to 
build transportation network, export bases 
 
NIKKEI (Page 1) (Full) 
April 15, 2009 
 
This newspaper has learned that the Russian government is asking for 
financial and technical assistance from Japan for the building of 
pipelines and a liquefied natural gas (LNG) export base. The 
construction cost for such facilities is estimated to total 500 
billion yen. Prime Minister Putin will likely sound out the Japanese 
side about the possibility of entering into full-scale talks with 
Japan on the matter when he visits in May. Extending cooperation to 
Russia matches Japan's energy policy of diversifying natural 
resource suppliers. However, it would also generate concerns about 
placing priority on economic cooperation, while shelving the 
Northern Territories issue. 
 
According to a source familiar with Japan's diplomacy, Russia is 
asking for financial assistance for the building of pipelines 
connecting Sakhalin and Vladivostok and an LNG export base in a 
suburb of Vladivostok. Its plan is to purchase all the gas produced 
 
TOKYO 00000860  007 OF 009 
 
 
under the Sakhalin 1 project - a natural gas and oil development 
project financed by Exxon Mobil Corp. of the U.S. and Itochu Corp. - 
and export most of it to Japan and other countries. Russia intends 
to control stake in the pipelines and the LNG export base. The gas 
reserves at the Sakhalin 1 project site are 485 billion cubic 
meters, topping the reserves at the Sakhalin 2 (408 billion cubic 
meters) project site. Exports from the Sakhalin 2 site to Japan just 
started recently. About 60% of the output from the Sakhalin 2 
project site is Japan-bound. These exports are expected to cover 8% 
of Japan's demand for natural gas. 
 
The Japanese government has started looking into extending loans 
through the Japan Bank for International Cooperation for the 
building of pipelines between Khabarovsk and Vladivostok. Russia 
plans to procure steel pipes from Japan. 
 
(7) TOP HEADLINES 
 
Asahi: 
Supreme Court calls for particularly prudent judgment in 
establishing groping case based on victim's testimony, acquits man 
 
Mainichi: 
Supreme Court acquits man of groping girl on train, seeks supporting 
evidence to testimony by victim 
 
Yomiuri: 
U.S. lists 11 North Korean military-related companies subject to 
freezing of assets 
 
Nikkei: 
Japan in talks with Switzerland to revise tax treaty in bid to 
prevent tax evasion through tax havens 
 
Sankei: 
North Korea informs IAEA of its decision to pull out of six-party 
talks 
 
Tokyo Shimbun: 
Consumer affairs agency to be launched possibly in fall; Ruling, 
opposition parties agree to revise bill to strengthen supervisory 
body 
 
 
Akahata: 
Chairman Shii asks government for its swift guidance on direct 
employment 
 
(8) EDITORIALS 
 
Asahi: 
(1) North Korean policy must be pursued based on UNSC presidential 
statement 
(2) Civil servant system must be reformed to become less dependent 
on bureaucracy 
 
Mainichi: 
(1) UNSC presidential statement on North Korea: Solid response 
called for without flinching 
(2) Money-Lending Business Control Law: Interest rates must be 
lowered swiftly 
 
 
TOKYO 00000860  008 OF 009 
 
 
Yomiuri: 
(1) Provocation by DPRK must not be tolerated 
(2) Time to graduate from the emotional rich-oriented tax-cut 
argument 
 
Nikkei: 
(1) "Hollowing out" of six-party talks evident in presidential 
statement 
(2) U.S. urged to reconsider stopping production of F-22s 
 
Sankei: 
(1) UNSC presidential statement: Sanctions on North Korea must be 
enforced thoroughly 
(2) Antipiracy legislation: DPJ must clarify its basic stance 
 
Tokyo Shimbun: 
(1) Presidential statement condemning North Korea must lead to 
resumption of six-party talks 
(2) Man accused of groping girl acquitted 
 
Akahata: 
(1) Antipiracy legislation: Permanent law on overseas dispatch of 
SDF must not be allowed 
 
(9) Prime Minister's schedule, April 14 
 
NIKKEI (Page 2) (Full) 
April 15, 2009 
 
09:02 
Attended cabinet meeting in Diet building. Chief Cabinet Secretary 
Kawamura and Foreign Minister Nakasone remained. 
 
09:30 
Talked with Peruvian President Garcia on the phone at Kantei. 
 
11:10 
Met with Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary Matsumoto. 
 
13:02 
Attended Lower House plenary session. 
 
15:28 
Met at Kantei with LDP Election Strategy Council Chairman Koga and 
Deputy Chairman Suga. 
 
16:06 
Met Japan Sportfishing Association Chairman Matsui. 
 
17:19 
Met with Jordan's King Abdallah. Hosted working dinner for the 
king. 
 
19:04 
Met with Matsumoto. 
 
19:34 
Dined with Upper House Budget Committee Chairman Mizote and 
committee directors from the LDP and New Komeito at Japanese 
restaurant Benkeibashi Shimizu in Grand Prince Hotel, joined by 
Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary Konoike. 
 
 
TOKYO 00000860  009 OF 009 
 
 
21:20 
Met with Shimamura, special advisor to the LDP president, and Reform 
Club leader Watanabe. 
 
22:13 
Returned to the official residence. 
 
ZUMWALT